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Environment Minister Avi Gabbay resigns following Lieberman appointment Israel’s Environment Minister has resign
Israel’s Environment Minister has resigned following the appointment of the Yisrael Beitenu leader as Defence Minister.
Avi Gabbay said he could no longer serve in the government, as it was announced Avigdor Lieberman will be sworn in as Defence Minister next week. In the last few days critics have pointed out Lieberman’s lack of military experience and his perceived hardline positions on a number of issues.
In a statement, Gabbay said: “Recent political steps and replacement of the defence minister are, in my view, a serious act that ignores what is best for the security of the state and will cause greater [social] polarisation among the people.” He explained: “This is a line that I can’t be a partner to” and consequently “I cannot continue to serve” in government.
It is widely reported that Lieberman told security officials yesterday: “I’m not going to impose my opinion and I won’t replace any of the position holders in the ministry.”
Gabbay’s resignation will not impact Netanyahu’s Knesset majority. He was selected by Kulanu leader and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon as an external ministerial appointment, and is not a Knesset member. It is not clear yet if Kahlon will insist on selecting a replacement for Gabbay. A number of senior Likud MKs are expected to make their case to fill the vacant ministerial role.
Meanwhile, Haaretz reports that coalition party Jewish Home is providing an obstacle to Lieberman’s appointment. Party leader and Education Minister Naftali Bennett is threatening to oppose Yisrael Beitenu’s entry into the coalition unless a military attaché is appointed to report to the security cabinet, in order to boost its decision-making capability. Jewish Home director-general Nir Orbach is quoted saying: “We are vocally opposed to supporting this vote [approving Yisrael Beitenu joining the government] without our ethical demands being met.”
Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement on Thursday that will see Yisrael Beitenu’s five MKs join the government, boosting its majority.